Category: Chicago Tribune
“Wicked” is coming back for the holidays!
‘Wicked’ returning for holidays – but at Cadillac Palace
When it comes to the highly-successful musical Wicked, the Emerald City wasn’t the only thing green about the show – the 2.9 million audience members over its 3.5 year run at the Oriental Theatre also brought in a whole lot of green, as in cold, hard cash.
So it makes total sense that the show’s producers are visiting Chicago again, this time for a 2-month run over the holidays (from December 1 – January 23, Cadillac Palace Theatre).
Read all of the details at Chris Jones blog, Theater Loop.
Welcome back Elpheba!
Chris Jones announces 10 best plays of 2009
The Tribune’s Chris Jones announces Top 10 Plays of 2009
For the complete description, explanations and reviews of these plays (and others), be sure to visit Chris Jones’ excellent blog: The Theater Loop
1. The Arabian Nights by Mary Zimmerman – Lookingglass Theatre (our review)
 |
 |
2. The History Boys by Nicholas Hytner – Timeline Theatre
3. The Overwhelming by J.T. Rogers – Next Theatre
4. The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity by Kristoffer Diaz – Victory Gardens (our review)
5. Blackbird by David Harrower – Victory Gardens (our review)
6. Cabaret by Kander and Ebb – Drury Lane Oakbrook (our review)
7. The Mystery of Irma Vep by Sean Graney – Court Theatre (our review)
 , |
 |
8. Graceland by Ellen Fairey – Profiles Theatre (our review)
9. Oh Coward! – devised by Roderick Cook – Writers’ Theatre (our review)
10. Stud Terkel’s Not Working – Second City e.t.c.
Chris Jones’ list of 10 shows that “should have made the list”
Desire Under the Elms – Goodman Theatre
Little Foxes – Shattered Globe Theatre
Miss Saigon – Drury Lane Oakbrook
Old Glory – Writers’ Theatre
Our Lady of the Underpass – Teatro Vista Theatre
Rock ‘n’ Roll – Goodman Theatre
Top Dog/Underdog – American Theater Company and Congo Square Theatre
Twelfth Night – Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Marriott Theatre
Bomb threat during performance of Jersey Boys
Per Chris Jones’ Theater Loop blog, the Bank of America Theatre (The Shubert) was evacuated about half-way through the evening performance after suspicious boxes were found in the alley behind the theatre. Per the blog:
According to a report from the Tribune’s William Lee, who was quoting a police source, one letter read "this is not a bomb," and the other note said "this is not going to end good."
Because of time constraints, following the realization that the boxes held nothing dangerous, there was no time left in the evening to complete the second act, and it was canceled. The audience members were informed that ticket exchanges would be available for any Tuesday performance in the month of October.
The entire posting can be found here, including some fairly heated comments below the story. Full Chicago Tribune coverage, including video, here.
Updates: Steppenwolf’s “Superior Donuts” on Broadway
Tracy Letts’ most recent play, Superior Donuts, just opened on Broadway with the same Steppenwolf cast. After receiving moderate to warm reviews here in Chicago, the NYC reviews so far appear mixed.
The NY Post gives Superior Donuts a very positive review – 3.5 stars:
After Superior Donuts, Tracy Letts‘ follow-up to August: Osage County, premiered in Chicago last year, the play was deemed entertaining but minor.
Either this Steppenwolf production has been drastically reworked on its way to New York, or we live in a cynical world where a show as tender and honest, as beautifully written, acted and directed as this one can be blithely dismissed.
While the New York Times produces a review that is so-so:
Mr. Letts has mothballed his angst and tossed the deadly weapons in the back drawer. Superior Donuts, a gentle comedy that unfolds like an extended episode of a 1970s sitcom, is a warm bath of a play that will leave Broadway audiences with satisfied smiles rather than rattled nerves.
Superior Donuts may be familiar and unchallenging, but it’s also comfortable — and no, there’s nothing wrong with that.
Below, Chicago Tribune theater critic Chris Jones interviews playwright Tracy Letts (“August: Osage County“) and lead actor Michael McKean (“Laverne and Shirley“, “Saturday Night Live“, “This is Spinal Tap“) about Superior Donuts, Letts’ new play premiered at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater. Letts’ 2007 play August: Osage County won the Pultizer Prize and Tony Award in 2008.
Stuart Carden appointed Writers’ Theatre Associate AD
Writers’ Theatre has appointed Stuart Carden associate artistic director.
“I’m so excited to be in collaboration with Stuart,” said Michael Halberstam, executive director the Writers’. “He has a rich background in literary development, a keen and ambitious scope of work as a director and a passion for the administrative challenges that come with supporting artistic direction. In a very short time I believe we will see Stuart’s strength of perspective and influence find its way onto the stages of Writers’ Theatre.”
Says Carden:
“I’m thrilled to be back home in the thriving Chicago theatre community as Writers’ Theatre’s new associate artistic director. Michael Halberstam and Kathryn Lipuma have created something extraordinary in Glencoe and I’m honored to join the passionate and vibrant group of artists and theater-makers that call Writers’ home. Through the course of my career my theatrical raison d’être has been helping bring new and diverse voices to the stage and I’m looking forward to bringing that passion for new work to Writers’ exciting Literary Development Initiative.”
Stuart Carden joins Writers’ Theatre as associate artistic director after two seasons at City Theatre Company in Pittsburgh where he was associate artistic director. As a new play specialist, Stuart has helped to develop over thirty plays, twelve of which he directed in their world premiere productions. Notable regional, U.S., and world premieres include works by Martin Crimp, David Henry Hwang, Tristine Skyler, Jeffrey Hatcher, Shishir Kurup, Richard Dresser and Yussef El Guindi. Last season his production of Martin McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis garnered five Kevin Kline nominations including “Outstanding Production” and “Outstanding Director.”
In Chicago he directed the world premiere production of Shishir Kurup’s The Merchant on Venice at Silk Road Theatre Project, which was named one of the top ten plays of 2007 by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Time Out Chicago. Other recent new play work includes directing Mary’s Wedding, The Pillowman, Stones in his Pockets, A Picasso, The Moonlight Room, 10 Acrobats in an Amazing Leap of Faith, Big Love and Back of the Throat. Classical and classically inspired directing projects include The False Servant, Spring Awakening, Life is a Dream, The Crucible, The Game of Love and Chance, Miss Julie, A Streetcar Named Desire and his own adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman.
Stuart has taught acting, directing and movement at Carnegie Mellon University, The Hartt School, Loyola University, Beloit College and Act One Studios. He holds an M.F.A. in directing from Carnegie Mellon University and is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. In the 2009/10 season Stuart is slated to direct David Harrower’s Blackbird at City Theatre Company and a play very familiar to Writers’ Theatre audiences, Crime and Punishment adapted by Curt Columbus and Marilyn Campbell, at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.
For more info about the Writers’ Theatre, please visit www.writerstheatre
Blago donates his over-sized hairbrush to Second City show
From Chicago Trubune writer Chris Jones’ excellent theater blog:
“Convinced that the legendary comedy theater’s representation of the infamous implement used to tame the indicted former Illinois Gov’s famous coif was inadequately sized, the showbiz-loving Blagojevich has sent along the actual brush for use as an historic artifact in the show, Rod Blagojevich Superstar, ongoing at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier.”
The show is being produced by Second City.
Read more here.
picture courtesy of Chicago Tribune.
Think Fast: Michael McKean, Jonas Brothers, CSO and ‘Peter Pan the Musical’
|
|
|
|
|
Chicago Theater Openings this week
ADULTS - Chemically Imbalanced Theater
BURIED CHILD - Shattered Globe Theatre
EIFMAN BALLET OF ST. PETERSBURG – Auditorium Theatre
LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL - Ford Center for the Performing Arts/Oriental Theatre
MEASURE FOR MEASURE – Promethean Theatre Ensemble
ON AN AVERAGE DAY - BackStage Theatre Company
OWEN WINGRAVE – Chicago Opera Theater
THE PIANO LESSON - Court Theatre
TOMMY – Circle Theatre
THE WALLS - Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
For special ticket offers, click on “Read more”
‘Rod Blagojevich Superstar’ moving to Chicago Shakespeare
Following a sold out run at Second City e.t.c., the popular comedy review “Rod Blagojevich Superstar‘ will be playing a limited engagement Chicago Shakes on Navy Pier. The Navy Pier version has been updated with new sketches and music to include recent Blago happenings, such as his 6-figure book deal and Roland Burris’ son (and, as the Blago drama proceeds, so will Second City’s improv show!). After each performance, the famed improv theatre troupe will improvise a 20-minute political comedy set based on audience suggestions.
Superstar has book by Ed Furman, music and lyrics by T.J. Shanoff and direction by Matt Hovde. The cast includes Joey Bland as Rod Blagojvich, Mike Bradecich as Richard Mell/Pat Fitzgerald, Lauren Dowden as Lisa Madigan, Lori McClain as Patti Blagojevich and Sam Richardson as Senator Roland Burris.
According to Second City notes,
“Politics and parody take center stage Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare with the Second City’s rollicking musical parody of the rise and fall of ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich. A faux tribute to the man who compares himself to Gandhi, King and Mandela, Rod Blagojevich Superstar presents the story of the former governor in the style of a ’70s rock musical. Jesus and Mary Magdalene have been replaced by Rod and Patti Blagojevich, with appearances by Alderman Dick Mell, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and Senator Roland Burris. The jury is still out on Blagojevich, but of the five other Illinois governors who have been charged with crimes, three have done time.”
More info at ChicagoShakes.com.
Rave reviews after the fold.
See video preview of the show here.
Theater-related passings: Broussard, Blau, Bridges, Lang
There were a number of theater-related passings recently, including:
Dorothy Bridges Eric Blau
|
|
|
|
Theater Thursday – The House Theatre’s “Rose and Rime”
Thursday, March 5
Rose and the Rime
The Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division Street (click on map for bigger picture)
Enjoy an evening in Wicker Park with pizza from Apart Pizza and a performance of Rose and the Rime, the House Theatre’s latest original work by the creators of The Sparrow (my rave review here). The tiny Michigan town of Radio Falls has been trapped in a perpetual winter for a generation. It’s up to a young girl named Rose to save the town from the vicious curse of the Rime witch. This is a modern version of The House’s favorite myth — a reminder that anything powerful enough to fulfill your dreams is powerful enough to destroy them.
Event begins in the lobby at 7:30 p.m.
Show begins at 8 p.m. A talk-back with the cast and crew follows.
TICKETS ONLY $25
For reservations call 773.251.2195 and mention “Theater Thursdays,” or visit www.thehousetheatre.com/tickets.
Reviews for Rose and Rime:
- Review by Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune here
- Review by Tom Williams of ChicagoCritic.com here
==========================================================
Theater Thursday brought to you by this outstanding entertainment retailer.
